Folding paper box



Dec. 1949- w. G. ANDERSON, JR 2,492,454

FOLDING PAPER BOX Filed Nov. 17, 1947 3 She'ets-Sheet 1 v fiwwtmog WausuR dR.

. ATTORNEYS 27, 1949 w. G. ANDERSON, JR 2,492,454

FOLDING PAPER BOX I Filed Nov. 17; 1947 Y 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 \NVENTOB .60:(a. Auoiasorgg.

Dec. 27 19459 w. G. ANDERsbN, JFR

FOLDING PAPER BOX 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 17, 19- 37 \Nva 1g Wmsun.G. Auoaason dR.

ATTORNEYS,-

Patented Dec. 27, 1949 FOLDING PAPER BOX Wilbur G. Anderson, Jr., GrandRapids, Mich.,

assignor to American Box Board Company, Grand Rapids, Micln, acorporation of Michi- Application November 17, 1947, Serial No. 788,419

Claims.

This invention relates to a folding paper box of a novel structure,which is made from a single sheet of paper material which, when foldedinto its closed position, is securely held against unfolding separation.Said box at its ends is strongly reinforced and the parts making up theends of the box are securely interlocked by a novel construction. Thebox also has a cover provided with end flaps at its ends and a sideengaging flap at its free edge, which is simply and easily interlockedand engaged with the ends and side of the box opposite that to which itis integrally and foldabiy connected. The box when in service is of astrong, sturdy character and may be used in shipping enclosedmerchandise of relatively heavy weight. The immediate use for which thebox has been designed is for the shipment of dressed poultry,particularly turkeys, and of a length, width and thickness for receivingsuch relatively large poultry which is of considerable bulk and weight.The box encloses and securely holds it, and there is positive assurancethat no accidental or other disconnection and unfolding or opening ofthe box shall occur. The box may be made of a medium weight or gauge ofpaperboard, of a thickness approximating or less than one-sixteenth ofan inch for the immediate present purposes for which it has beendesigned.

It is of course to be understood that the box is not limited tocontaining dressed poultry only, but is available for containing anyother articles which are to be shipped of substantially the same orsmaller bulk and weight.

An understanding of the invention may be had from the followingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich,

Fig. 1 is a plan of the flat blank of paperboard which when foldedprovides the enclosing box of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspectiv view illustrating the first steps of folding theblank into box form,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the box body completely folded withthe cover in open position,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the closed box,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view, somewhat enlarged, at one end of thebox illustrating the manner of connectin the end members thereof,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section transversely of the box atone end thereof, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section through one end ofthebox, said box in both Figs. 6 and 7 being with the top closed.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figuresof the drawings.

As shown in Fig. 1, a fiat sheet of the desired strength of paperboardis cut and scored to pro- 2 the box which is to be made. The bottom I ofrectangular form has its side edge boundaries on parallel scored or foldlines 2, and its end boundaries on scored or fold lines 3 perpendicularto the lines 2. From eacn end of the bottom an end member 4 extendswhich progressively decreases in thickness outwardly as shown and at itsouter end terminates in two laterally extending tabs '5 locatedgenerally at right angles to the length of the section 4 and of thebottom I. At one side edge of the bottom I a side 6 of the box, whichmay be termed the front side of it, extends, having the same length asthe bottom (defined by fold lines 8), and of a width shown as greaterthan the width of the bottom, but which may be any desired width for thepurpose for which the box is to be used. Its end boundaries'are providedby scored or fold lines 8 in alinement with the end fold lines 3 of thebottom I. From the opposite side edge, or to provide the rear side ofthe box, is a rectangular side 1 having the same width as the front side6 and the same length as the bottom and the front side.

At each end of the front side 6 an end section 9 extends beyond the foldlines 8, which at its inner side and midway between its ends is slottedas indicated at Ill, leaving an inner corner tab II, the inner edge ofwhich is of a curved or rounded form, the slot widening outwardly asshown. At the outer edge of each end member ID is a notch Illa of theshape shown, the inner edge of which is of curved form and the outeredge disposed at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees to thelength of the end member with which associated.

The rear side I has ends defined by scored. or fold lines I2 inalinement with the fold lines 3 of the bottom. From each end of the rearside I beyond the fold lines I2, end members I4 extend which, like theend members 9, are of a generally rectangular form and each of which atits outer side is provided with a notch indicated at I5, the outer edgeof which is parallel to the outer end of the member I4 and the inneredge of which is at an angle as shown at its inner portion, with aconvex projection I6 positioned as shown, the inner ends of the edges ofsaid projection I6 coming substantially to the scored or fold lines I3which define the opposite side edge of the rear side 'I. It will benoted that the end members 4, extending from the bottom I, at theirouter ends and at the outer edges of the tabs 5, extend a short distancebeyond the outer edges of the end members 9 and I4 which are integrallyconnected with the front and rear box sides 6 and I.

The top ll of rectangular shape has substantially the same length andwidth as the bottom I. It extends from the rear side 1 beyond the foldline I3. It has scored or fold lines at I8 at its ends alining with thefold lines 3, 8 and 12. beyond which are rectangular tongues l9, one ateach end of the top H. At its outer edge the top is divided by scored orfold line 2!), beyond which is a tongue 2| extending substantially thelength of the top. In the body, of said tongue 2| two slots are cut, theintermediate portions of which parallel the length of the tongue andeach at each end has a short angularly disposed branch extendingoutwardly as shown, thereby providing tabs as indicated at 22. Directlyopposite, the front side 6 at its free edge is notched at four spacedapart points with V-notches to provide tongues 23 which aline with theslots around the tabs 22. When the cover is closed, said tongues 23 passthrough the slots underneath the tabs 22 as hereafter described.

In the folding of the box to completed form, the front and rear sides 6and i are turned upwardly toward each other and the end members 9 and Mare interlocked by carrying the tabs at ll through the slots at i5, theend portion of the end member M being located within the end member 9and the end portion of the member 9, in-

cluding the tab ii, being located within the end member i l. The endsare then completed by turning the members l upwardly and bending thetabs 5 on the dash lines indicated in Fig. 1, one of them passingthrough the slot or recess at ma and underneath the end member 9 at thetop of the box, while the other passes underneath that portion of theend member M at the concave curved projection 96 thereon. Said tabs arebetween the inner interlocked portions of the end members 9 and i l andare inside of the outer portions thereof. This provides a secureinterlocking connection of the three end members extending from the endsof the bottom i and the front and rear sides 6 and i, with asubstantially triple thickness of material at the ends of the box.

The cover is moved into closed position with the tabs i9 turned at rightangles to the body ll of the cover and coming at the outer sides of theupper ends of the sections l and of the tabs 5, but within theupperportions of the end members 9 and It. The longitudinal tab ortongue 2i comes within the upper edge portion of the front 6 and thetongues 23 on said front are inserted through the slots which bound thetongues 22, making a secure connection as shown in Fig. 4. In theassembly and interconnection of the several end members at each end ofthe box, the material is sprung and distorted out of shape as much asmay be necessary, as indicated in Fig. 5, but when the end parts areinterconnected they will lie fiat against each other.

The structure described is practical, useful, economical and strong andof a sturdy character. The blanks may be shipped flat, as in Fig. 1, andthe folding to box form is quickly and easily accomplished.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be consideredcomprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. A box structure comprising, a rectangular bottom, vertical front andrear sides foldably connected thereto, a top foldably connected at theupper edge of the rear side, and end members extending from each end ofthe bottom and from each end of the front and rear sides, said endmembers connected with said sides overlapping and having interlockingconnection with each.

other, and the end members connected to said bottom extending upwardlyand provided at their upper ends with oppositely extended generallyhorizontal tongues located between the overlapping portions of the andmembers connected with said front and rear sides of the box.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, said top at each end having an endextension providing a flap the length of which is substantially equal tothe width of the top, said flaps with the top in closed positionextending therefrom between the upper overlapping portions of the endmembers connected to the front and rear sides of the box and over theupper ends of said end members connected with the bottom and coveringthe horizontal tongues connected therewith.

3. A structure as defined in claim 1, said top at its longitudinal freeedge having a flap connected therewith having a length substantiallyequal to the length of the top, said last mentioned flap having slotstherein, and the front of the box at its upper edge having upwardlyextending tongues insertable through said slots with said longitudinalflap on the top located within the upper edge portion of said box front.

4. A paper box comprising, a rectangular bottom, rectangular front andrear sides integrally and foldably connected therewith to be located atright angles to the bottom, and ends each comprising three members, oneintegrally and foldably connected to each end of the bottom and to eachend of each of the front and rear sides, said end members connected tosaid sides overlapping each other, one being vertically slotted from itsupper end downwardly and the other vertically slotted from its loweredge upwardly for interlocking connection of said end members, each ofsaid slots being widened at its outer end, and said end member connectedto each end of the bottom extending vertically and decreasing in widthupwardly and at its upper end portion having oppositely extendinghorizontal tongues receivable between the upper overlapping portions ofsaid end members connected to the front and rear sides of the box.

5. A structure as defined in claim 4, and an integral top of rectangularform integrally and foldably connected at the upper edge of the rearside of the box, said top at each end having an end flap, the length ofwhich is equal substantially to the width of the top, adapted to coverthe upper end portions and the tongues of the end members connected withthe box bottom and be located between the upper overlapping end portionsof said end members connected with the front and rear sides of the box.

WILBUR G. ANDERSON, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 556,675 Howe Mar. 17, 18961,973,209 Hooker Sept. 11, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date493,410 Great Britain Oct. 7, 1938

